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Owensboro LandscapersWed, 13 May 2020 23:56:25 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-Logo-fb-32x32.jpgClark's Lawnscapes, Inc.https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com
3232113600953Spring Cleanups: What, Why, and Howhttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/spring-cleanups-what-why-and-how/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/spring-cleanups-what-why-and-how/#respondWed, 13 May 2020 23:55:28 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=1085Let’s be honest: Spring Cleanups can be difficult. And a Spring Cleanup isn’t just to have tidy curb appeal. It keeps your grounds healthy and avoids diseases and pests. So here’s the What, the Why, and the How of Spring Cleanups, to get your grounds growing healthy and looking lush. The What Let’s refresh on […]

]]>Let’s be honest: Spring Cleanups can be difficult. And a Spring Cleanup isn’t just to have tidy curb appeal. It keeps your grounds healthy and avoids diseases and pests. So here’s the What, the Why, and the How of Spring Cleanups, to get your grounds growing healthy and looking lush.

The What

Let’s refresh on what a Spring Cleanup can do for you.
It includes these 7 services – in the order they’re done:

1. Cleaning up. This can be a huge service area depending on the condition of the grounds. It can include removing animal feces, taking out trash that drifted onto the grounds, raking out organic debris, and cleaning out flowerbeds. Clark’s can also divide and transplant perennials, and pull weeds and tree sprouts.

2. Prune your trees and shrubs. Spring is a great time to prune your trees and shrubs, and Clark’s can take care of that for you.

3. Freshen up your flowerbed mulch. There should only be 2 inches of fresh mulch in your flowerbeds and under your trees and shrubs. Spring is a great time to have your landscaper refresh your mulch to help prevent weeds from springing up.

4. Apply the 1st fertilizer treatment to your lawn. After your grounds are cleaned up, your landscaper will apply the 1st fertilizer treatment of the season. Clark’s offers great lawn programs. Contact us to subscribe and keep your lawn strong from the roots up.

5. Edge your lawns and flowerbeds. Create a clear boundary between your flowerbeds, landscapes, sidewalks, and lawns. Edging creates clean lines that distinguish the areas of your grounds. The result is well-kept grounds with clean boundaries.

6. Apply pre-emergent weed control. After your cleanup, it’ll be time to get Spring pre-emergent weed control for your lawn and landscaping beds. We can do that for you.

7. Give your lawn its 1st mow of the season. Depending on your situation, your landscaper may also mow your lawn as part of Spring Cleanup. After it’s all finished, you’ll love the smooth, clean look of your grounds.

The Why

Wow – from that list, you can see that the What of Spring Cleanups is huge.
And that‘s why the Why is big too: it takes a lot of hard work to get your grounds healthy, thriving, and looking great. At Clark’s, we know life can get busy. And even if you’ve done your own cleanups, sometimes the weather just doesn’t cooperate when you finally do have time. That’s another reason why hiring a professional landscaper can make things better for you.

The How

The quickest and easiest point! How to do it? Contact Clark’s. We will listen to understand your wants and needs, and customize a plan to fit your goals and budget.

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/spring-cleanups-what-why-and-how/feed/01085Spring Cleanup – Photo Bloghttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/spring-cleanup-2020/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/spring-cleanup-2020/#respondWed, 18 Mar 2020 06:18:50 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=1017We just did an early Spring cleanup for one of our great customers. That included cutbacks, pruning, weed prevention, and a rich cypress mulch. Spring cleanups are beginning to fill up, so contact us today to set yours!

That included cutbacks, pruning, weed prevention, and a rich cypress mulch.

Spring cleanups are beginning to fill up, so contact us today to set yours!

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/spring-cleanup-2020/feed/01017Is Winter a Good Time To Get Sodding Done?https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/is-winter-a-good-time-to-get-sodding-done/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/is-winter-a-good-time-to-get-sodding-done/#respondFri, 17 Jan 2020 02:03:29 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=962The short answer is Yes, you can sod in winter. Dormant sod will lay roots slowly during this season, but as temps warm up, the grass will really take off. So this is a perfect time to cover up that dirt and get a jump on a new green lawn. The advantages are, by sodding […]

]]>The short answer is Yes, you can sod in winter. Dormant sod will lay roots slowly during this season, but as temps warm up, the grass will really take off. So this is a perfect time to cover up that dirt and get a jump on a new green lawn.

The advantages are, by sodding in Winter, you not only get a jump on establishing your lawn, but you also use little or no water.

As long as your grade is set, you can lay sod on Winter ground. Moving into Spring, we normally get enough rain to help establish your new lawn.

The steps are the same when you sod in Winter. Apply starter fertilizer before sodding, pull seams tight, no need to water the sod because the weather usually takes care of that naturally this time of year. It might freeze after it’s installed, but this will not harm the grass. If the weather is warm and dry, you may want to water the new sod, but just enough so that the water soaks through.

Get a jump on you new lawn during Winter and allow your lawn extra time to root before Summer heat hits. Take advantage of the Spring rain and save money on your water bill. Winter sod that gets installed while it’s dormant and brown will root in slowly during Winter and green up in Spring.

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/is-winter-a-good-time-to-get-sodding-done/feed/0962New Year – New Actionhttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/new-year-new-action/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/new-year-new-action/#respondMon, 13 Jan 2020 08:02:01 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=964So the New Year has begun. Reflecting on the past can be helpful, but it’s even more important to plan today for the future. And if you’ve looked at the big picture for your grounds, you may have a list of things that start coming to mind. That’s where the Clark’s team comes in. A […]

]]>So the New Year has begun. Reflecting on the past can be helpful, but it’s even more important to plan today for the future.
And if you’ve looked at the big picture for your grounds, you may have a list of things that start coming to mind.

That’s where the Clark’s team comes in. A phone call to Clark’s can help you get clarity on what to do.

Some people know they need to get their landscaping and maintenance back on track this year.
Some people are doing well, but have projects that will work best with the help of an expert.
Some may have ideas but are wondering – what do I do next?

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/new-year-new-action/feed/0964Drainage & Grading Problems & How to Avoid Themhttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/drainage-grading-problems-how-to-avoid/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/drainage-grading-problems-how-to-avoid/#respondFri, 25 Oct 2019 06:47:43 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=908Let’s talk about a problem – and how to avoid it. Drainage & grading problems around your grounds can be a serious problem. Not only does poor drainage ruin landscaping, but believe it or not, it can also greatly increase the odds of having damage to your building or residence! The sad reality is that […]

]]>Let’s talk about a problem – and how to avoid it. Drainage & grading problems around your grounds can be a serious problem. Not only does poor drainage ruin landscaping, but believe it or not, it can also greatly increase the odds of having damage to your building or residence!

The sad reality is that many of those damaged grounds and buildings would have needed only moderate corrective action to avoid that damage. And it’s the kind of work Clark’s sees all the time.

Let’s look at 5 kinds of damage that can result from drainage & grading design issues.

Five Negative Effects of Drainage & Grading Problems

1. Lawn killer. Ponding water and stagnated soils kill grass. And if you have a dog it can become a muddy mess.

2. Pest motel. Ponding water around your grounds is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

3. Landscape ruination. As a result your landscaping will significantly suffer.

4. Soil expansion. Ponding water around your building’s foundation oversaturates the expansive soils like a sponge, causing them to expand. The outward push of soil expansion can seriously disrupt supporting soils, which often leads to structural damage.

5. House of pain. This domino effect of poor drainage & poor grading around your structures can allow water to damage lower trim boards and siding. Worse yet, rising water can enter the structure or be sucked up into the capillaries of wood framing through wicking.

When you consider the damage risks, you can see why it makes sense to have a professional take a look to ensure excellent drainage & grading design.

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/drainage-grading-problems-how-to-avoid/feed/0908How Aeration & Overseeding Makes Your Lawn Healthyhttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/how-aeration-overseeding-makes-your-lawn-healthy/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/how-aeration-overseeding-makes-your-lawn-healthy/#commentsMon, 16 Sep 2019 20:13:04 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=880In our last blog post we mentioned several important elements of Fall Landscaping. In this post we’ll take a closer look at why Aeration & Overseeding is one of the most important of those aspects. Core Aeration & Overseeding is the process of mechanically removing plugs of thatch & soil from the lawn, and applying […]

]]>In our last blog post we mentioned several important elements of Fall Landscaping. In this post we’ll take a closer look at why Aeration & Overseeding is one of the most important of those aspects.

Core Aeration & Overseeding is the process of mechanically removing plugs of thatch & soil from the lawn, and applying fresh seed and starter fertilizer. In our last blog we mentioned that Fall is the best season to do annual Aeration & Overseeding. But why?
Here are 7 reasons why:

Proper Aeration & Overseeding can reduce water requirements up to 25% without harming the grass. And Aeration & Overseeding pays for itself within a year’s time in water savings alone! That’s because the water is getting down to the root zone – not getting lost in the thatch layer and evaporating – so it’s more effective and will require less.

Aeration & Overseeding is one of the best things you can do for your lawn.
Contact Clark’s to order yours today.

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/how-aeration-overseeding-makes-your-lawn-healthy/feed/48805 Why’s of Fall Landscapinghttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/5-whys-of-fall-landscaping/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/5-whys-of-fall-landscaping/#respondMon, 09 Sep 2019 04:03:33 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=867Fall is upon us – falling leaves and football, shorter days and cooler air. And a great season for some important landscaping! Here are 5 reasons why: 1. Why Aerate Your Lawn in Fall? Fall is the best time to aerate your lawn. Aeration allows lawns to rapidly recover from summer damage, enhance root development, […]

]]>Fall is upon us – falling leaves and football, shorter days and cooler air.
And a great season for some important landscaping!
Here are 5 reasons why:

1. Why Aerate Your Lawn in Fall?Fall is the best time to aerate your lawn. Aeration allows lawns to rapidly recover from summer damage, enhance root development, as well as allow beneficial water, air, and nutrients down into the soil & root zone. Getting aeration once a year also controls thatch & promotes healthy turf.

2. Why Fertilize Your Lawnin Fall?Now is a great time to start a lawn fertilizer program. We can prescribe the perfect program for your lawn. Promoting deep roots now with the right blend of fertilizer will pay off next year.

3. Why Fall Pruning?Fall is the time to cut back perennials and other trees and shrubs – consider a few examples. Daylilies respond well to shearing. Fall pruning saves you from a messy cleanup in the Spring. Perennials like Peonies need a period of cold to set buds for the following season. Plus, like many perennials, their foliage is extremely prone to mildew. Both are great reasons to remove the foliage in Fall.

4. Why Fall Planting?Fall is also the best time to plant and transplant. Cooler temperatures help ease stress & shock on plants. Plants that are planted during Summer must be regularly monitored for heat stress. But trees, shrubs, and perennials planted in Fall may only need a few waterings.

5. Why Fall Projects?Imagine the possibilities – now is the perfect time to plan your new paver walkway or patio. Thought about installing or replacing a new retaining wall? There is plenty of time in November, and right now at Special Fall Pricing! Contact us to schedule a free consult.

Clark’s Got You CoveredYou’re busy enough without having to worry about grounds maintenance. It’s so nice to come home and see your grounds beautifully conditioned, sidewalks edged, no weeds among the flowers, and your lawn trim? Let Clark’s help, so you can better enjoy your time off without worries! From week to week our professional crew will be at your grounds, keeping your lawn trimmed and looking its best all season long.

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/5-whys-of-fall-landscaping/feed/0867Hardscaping vs. Landscapinghttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/hardscaping-vs-landscaping/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/hardscaping-vs-landscaping/#commentsTue, 03 Sep 2019 22:35:12 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=863What’s the Difference? What do the terms “hardscaping” and “landscaping” mean? Knowing the difference can help you understand and better see your landscaper’s ideas, and will also help you understand how to properly care for your space when it’s done. Basically, they are the 2 main parts of landscape design. Hardscaping is any of the […]

]]>What’s the Difference?What do the terms “hardscaping” and “landscaping” mean? Knowing the difference can help you understand and better see your landscaper’s ideas, and will also help you understand how to properly care for your space when it’s done.

Basically, they are the 2 main parts of landscape design. Hardscaping is any of the non-living elements of your design – think concrete, bricks, pavers, stone, & wood. It includes structures like pergolas or decks. By contrast, landscaping is all the “soft” or living things in your design – grass, trees, plants, & flowers. While it’s easy to understand their differences, designing them to work well together is a bit more challenging.

Why Hardscaping?Hardscaping is more than just appearance. It’s important to the usability of your outdoor space.
Consider some of the ways it can enhance your landscape design:

Tips for Using HardscapingHere are some tips for making good use of hardscaping in your design:

Hardscaping should feel like it was designed with intentionality. It should create a focal point to draw the eye, and there should also be places for the eye to rest. Too many straight lines make landscaping feel unnatural, so the design should feel natural, while keeping visual appeal.

Consider how your landscape design will affect the drainage in your grounds. You don’t want poor design to result in them either flooded or parched. Using elements like retaining walls and stone steps can dramatically improve drainage. Consider those areas and use hardscaping to fix them.

Many people like to match their hardscaping to their building’s exterior, allowing them to flow together seamlessly. For example, if the exterior is stone, incorporate similar stones into the hardscaping.

If not well constructed, grounds’ natural expansion & contraction can damage your hardscaping. Plan for shifting & moving ground. And to avoid damage, be sure to settle hardscaping below the frostline.

Using landscaping & hardscaping together in your outdoor space can create a visually appealing experience around your grounds. Understanding the differences between them, how to efficiently use them, and how to design them to work well together will make it easier for you to create the perfect space.

]]>https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/hardscaping-vs-landscaping/feed/1863Summer Slideshowhttps://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/summer-slideshow/
https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/summer-slideshow/#respondMon, 12 Aug 2019 02:24:39 +0000https://www.clarkslawnscapesinc.com/?p=853Check out some of our work from this summer.

]]>A. Pruning BenefitsPruning has many benefits – from spurring growth to letting air & light into the plants, to helping guide the plant to filling out its shape. Regular pruning helps plant health and aesthetics in 5 ways:

At Clark’s, we train our crews to anticipate what the plant is going to do. For example, if we know a shrub under a window will typically grow 18” during the season, we’ll keep it at or below window sill level while it’s blooming, so we cut it back below the sill far enough to allow it that space to grow.

B. Pruning TechniquesWe know which limbs to cut, where to cut, and which ones not to cut. We use a variety of techniques depending on the plant and the plan for the pruning process. Four pruning techniques we use are:

1. Shearing: Trimming the plant around the outside to maintain a clear shape or structure.2. Thinning: Opens up the middle of the plant to allow more sunlight in, and that keeps the interior branches healthy to promote new growth.3. Heading: Cutting long, single stems above a healthy bud. This encourages lower branches to bush out.4. Cutbacks: Cutting plants to the ground during dormancy to stimulate vigorous spring growth from the base. For example, roses benefit from dramatic cutbacks because it keeps them compact and able to produce more blooms.

It’s all about how to apply the techniques. What guides us is design intent. How does this plant fit into the landscape? If it’s ornamental, are we maintaining symmetry with multiple plants of the same shape? Is this plant to drape over a walkway or soften the edges? To answer such questions we mix 3 things: landscape design style, the natural tendencies of the plant, and the preferences of the client.

C. Pruning Takes Finesse and ExpertiseThe challenge is to not have the landscape look overly trimmed. We’re constantly working to keep plants at the desired size, but still retain their natural form and beauty.

Pruning is one of the best things you can do for your landscaping. Well-pruned grounds grow fuller with a more attractive shape, produce more flowers, and are healthier overall. Good pruning takes your grounds to the next level, making them balanced & captivating as they’re meant to be.

To talk about taking your landscaping to the next level, call Clark’s today for a free consult.